After welcoming Delaware's Jordan Watson as the newest weekly Big Block addition last month, Bridgeport Speedway will have another new Saturday night competitor throughout the 2016 racing season. Jim Britt recently confirmed that he will indeed be moving up from the Crate/Sportsman division into the weekly wars with the Spirit Auto Center Big Blocks at the 5/8 mile oval.
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Although this will be Britt’s first full-season behind the wheel of a powerful 467 cubic inch Big Block, he is by no means a stranger to the racing scene, especially at Bridgeport. Jim Britt started his racing career at the legendary Flemington Speedway in the Enduro division in 1997, where he raced with drivers like current racing sensations Ryan Godown and Earl Paules Jr. In ’99 Britt made the switch to race more locally at Bridgeport in the Street Stock division for a couple of seasons. Then in 2002 he bought a sportsman car that he ran at East Windsor a few times before they permanently closed their doors. Fellow sportsman driver at the time, Richie Pratt was a big help according to Britt. The following year Britt was able to find victory lane for the first time at Bridgeport Speedway, while also competing at tracks such as Susquehanna and Delaware International.
Then, in 2006 Jim Britt decided to get out of racing, but occasionally attended races and helped some friends like modified driver Ron Roberts. In ’08 Britt did jump behind the wheel once again, as he was offered to drive Roberts’ back up modified on a couple of occasions. Fast forward five years later to 2013 and Britt caught the racing bug yet again as he purchased a used Teo-Pro car for a couple of races at the end of the ’13 season. The following year Jim bought a brand new Hig-Fab chassis with a Delaware crate engine where he ran sporadically at venues such as Bridgeport, Penn Can, and New Egypt.
Heading into the 2015 season Jim Britt and his team made the decision that they would shoot for the ’15 Crate/Sportsman championship at Bridgeport. “We bought a motor from Gene Stravinsky and we really wanted that Bridgeport title,” Britt admitted. Britt’s lofty goal from last year fell one position shy of accomplishment as he finished runner-up in the year-long point chase. “Although we didn’t win the championship we had a pretty good season and we won six times at Bridgeport. We also finished second twice at Thunder Mountain and ran well when we went to Penn Can, I-88, Five Mile Point, Grandview, and New Egypt.” Britt’s ’15 season was also highlighted by his second place effort in the overall American Racer Cup Sportsman standings (missed title by 1 point), winning the A/R South Region, and second in Bridgeport’s Poker Series.
This season, Jim Britt will have brand new Hig-Fab chassis as part of his Big Block arsenal. “Jerry’s (Higbie) a great guy that puts out a great product with his cars. He’s all for the little guy and helps as much as he can no matter what. We will also have a freshened up CC Performance Engine that I bought from Jamie Mills, a Jimmy Weiss prepared Sportsman motor, and currently are in the process of building an ‘open’ 358 small bock.” Needless to say, Jim Britt is coming into the new season well-prepared for success.
The 36-year old Broomall, Pennsylvania resident is self-employed as he owns CIL Underground LLC, which is a drilling and utility construction company that operates along the east coast ranging from North Jersey all the way to North Carolina. Britt’s family is extremely supportive of his racing endeavors as they attend Bridgeport weekly. “My whole family comes to the track every week. We bought a skybox for the whole season last year and my kids, wife, and everyone else just love coming there. That’s another reason besides the good racing at the track. It's the ‘family atmosphere’ that makes us choose Bridgeport over everywhere else. It’s a nice facility and it’s more than just racing, they give the fans a show each and every week.”
Britt was quick to point out some of the sponsors and help that make it all happen for the No. 118 Team. “Of course there’s CIL, Buckley Cable Construction, Jim’s Lawn Service, Kevin Incorporated, and I can’t forget Terry & Stacie Poole as they stepped up big time this year. I don't know if any of what we do would be possible without by brother Kevin. He houses and maintains the cars at his place which is just a few miles from the track. He does most of the work on the car during the week, since I'm usually out of state working during the week. My Dad and the rest of the crew are a big part of this team too. We also help out some of my friends too with a little sponsorship. Guys like Steve Davis and Brad Roberts are good guys so we try and help them get to the race track every week too.”
So what’s in store in 2016 for Mr. Britt? “Well, we’re gonna run all the Big Block races at Bridgeport (regular point shows and 811 Dig Safely Poker races). Once we get the small block ready we plan on hitting some of the local Short Track Super Series races and of the Georgetown races they have. We still have the Sportsman car/motor so I think we’ll try and hit some of the better paying shows in NY and run Deyo’s North Sportsman Series. After Bridgeport, I think I really like Thunder Mountain the best and plan on running any shows there that don’t conflict with Bridgeport’s races. Basically we just wanna go out and race a lot this season and have fun. I’m not looking to set the world on fire but, I obviously want to be competitive.” If Jim Britt’s first full season at Bridgeport in 2015 in the Crate/Sportsman class was any indication of a ‘rookie year’, then 2016 looks to be a promising one as his journey begins in the Big Block division.
B. Kolby Ramey
Bridgeport Speedway, LLC
Financial Administrator
(443) 859-4552
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